In an order issued on Wednesday, National Green Tribunal has directed Bhopal district Collector not to allow any new construction in the area of historic Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan lake in the old city.
The Tribunal also issued notice to District Registrar to present before the tribunal all the sale deeds of properties that have been illegally developed in the lake area. The orders were issued by a bench of Justice P Jyotimani and Ajay A Deshpande which was hearing the petition filed by a Bhopal based voluntary organisation Rashtrahit Jagrit Gandhiwadi Prayas regarding illegal encroachment in the lake area.
The petition was filed on April 17 and the bench was hearing it to decide about its admissibility.
The petitioner presented photographs of the lake which depicted encroachment and ongoing construction work at the lake site. The petitioner also contended before the tribunal that in 2005 the Supreme Court had issued directions to the Bhopal district Collector and Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner for removing encroachment in the lake area and also to prevent any further construction work.
It had also directed the administration to construct a boundary wall around the lake. However, the directions of the court were never implemented by the administration, petitioner contended.
Hearing the contentions of the petitioner and also looking at the photographic evidence showing encroachment and illegal construction activity at the lake area, the bench not only admitted the petition but also issued notices to Bhopal district administration and BMC.
The next hearing of the bench would be conducted on May 25.